Robert Lambert Baynes
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United Kingdom
Royal NavySir Robert Baynes | |
|---|---|
 Rear Admiral Robert Lambert Baynes, 1850s, unknown artist | |
| Born | 4 September 1796[1] |
| Died | 7 September 1869 (aged 73) Upper Norwood, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Navy |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands | |
| Conflicts | |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath |
Admiral Sir Robert Lambert Baynes KCB (4 September 1796 – 7 September 1869) was a British Royal Navy admiral who as Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Station helped prevent the 1859 Pig War from escalating to a major conflict between the United States and the United Kingdom. Baynes joined the Royal Navy in 1810 and served in the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812. He took part in the Battle of Navarino in 1827 during the Greek War of Independence. He was promoted to captain in 1828 and commanded the vessels HMS Andromache and HMS Bellerophon and served as one of the senior officers in the Baltic Sea during the Crimean War. In 1857, he was made Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Station.
Baynes was born to Commander Thomas Baynes of the British Royal Navy and Edith in Millbrook, Hampshire.[2] Baynes followed his father and joined the Royal Navy on 19 April 1810 at the age of 14 and was assigned to HMS Blake during the Napoleonic Wars. The ship patrolled off the coast of Catalonia where Baynes served as a midshipman until 1813. From 1813 to 1818, Baynes served in a succession of vessels; HMS Duncan, HMS Royal Sovereign, HMS Tonnant (flagship of Rear Admiral Alexander Cochrane) and HMS Seahorse in which Baynes took part in the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812. This was followed by stints aboard HMS Cyrus and HMS Conqueror, flagship of Rear Admiral Robert Plampin.[3]
On 8 April 1818, Baynes was promoted to lieutenant and on 12 April 1819, was assigned to HMS Vigo.[2][3] On 2 December 1822 he was assigned shore duty at St Helena before joining HMS Briton and HMS Tartarus on the South American station. On 6 October 1826, he was assigned to HMS Asia. On 8 July 1827, he was made the commanding officer of the sloop HMS Alacrity on the Mediterranean Station, but returned to Asia as second captain, which was the flagship of Vice Admiral Edward Codrington.[3][4]
Navarino and command
Baynes was aboard Asia, the British flagship during the Battle of Navarino on 20 October 1827 during the Greek War of Independence from the Ottoman Empire. A joint British-French-Russian fleet attacked a larger, joint Ottoman-Egyptian fleet in Navarino Bay. Asia led the line of battle and the steady fire by the British-French-Russian fleet led to their victory.[5] Baynes distinguished himself during the battle and was promoted to captain on 8 July 1828. He was also made a companion of the Bath (CB),[6] a knight in the Greek Order of the Redeemer and received two other honours.[2][7]
As a post-captain, Baynes was not given a command immediately was only assigned to command the 26-gun HMS Andromache on the Cape Station beginning 2 February 1838. He remained aboard the ship until March 1843, after which he was placed on half-pay. On 8 July 1846, he married Frances Denman, the daughter of Lord Denman, Lord Chief Justice.[3] Baynes was reactivated and from 23 September 1847 to 7 November 1850, he commanded HMS Bellerophon a troopship that was assigned first to the Western Station, then the Mediterranean.[8] Baynes was promoted to rear admiral on 7 February 1855[9] and he was the third in command in the Baltic Sea during the final year of the Crimean War in 1855.[2]